Stereolithography is an additive manufacturing process where liquid materials and composites are turned into manufactured parts and prototypes, layer by layer, using an ultraviolet laser.[1] Stereolithography is ideal for high-accuracy small parts that require smooth surface finishes, such as prototypes and models. [1]

Custom plastic thermoformer & injection molder to include 5 axis CNC routing with full cad-cam support, injection molding & a complete tooling shop. Specializing in prototyping & product development that can be injection molded & available in stereolithography prototypes. [2] Although stereolithography is among the most mature of the seven major AM processes, it remains one of the most popular for modeling, rapid prototyping of high-resolution objects and the production of customized plastic parts. [3] Provides rapid prototyping and stereolithography services for quick-turn parts in a variety of plastics & metals (ABS, PCABS, ASA, nylon, polycarbonate, Ultem, and other thermoplastics as well as photopolymers. [2]

Stereolithography differs from most AM processes in that it can be used to produce transparent objects, a real advantage in rapid prototyping of optical items and headlight covers. [3] Stereolithography is increasingly used to fabricate biocompatible objects for dental applications. [3]

The different resins used in stereolithography yield plastics varying in pliability, hardness and toughness. [3] Stereolithography was the first commercial SFF process developed by 3D Systems Inc. and is based on layer-by-layer polymerization of photosensitive resin using ultraviolet (UV) light. [4] One big advantage of stereolithography is the wide variety of liquid photopolymers compatible with the process. [3]

With lead times measured in hours or days, stereolithography is highly conducive to prototype development. [3] This information directs the stereolithography apparatus to create the desired 3-D object. [3] Another study at Walter Reed looked at the use of anatomical models fabricated through stereolithography. [3] Stereolithography also brings painstaking accuracy without the painstaking time. [1]

Somos® 9120 (off white) – is a liquid photopolymer that produces robust, functional and accurate parts using stereolithography machines.[6] Somos® NeXt (white) – is an extremely durable stereolithography resin that produces very accurate parts with high feature detail. [6] Somos® ProtoGen resins are the first stereolithography resins to demonstrate different material properties based on machine exposure control. [6]

Stereolithography builds parts with a precise UV laser to cure and solidify thin layers of a photo-reactive resin. [7] As Live Science notes, stereolithography applications range from the medical field to manufacturing to build prototypes and on final products. [8] Whether you?re looking for a functional finish that?s designed for lightning fast lead-times or an aesthetic finish that makes your prototype identical to the final product, take a look at your wide range of options with Stereolithography finishes at Materialise. [9] Stereolithography is often used for prototypes, master patterns or large concept models, form and fit prototypes and investment casting patterns. [7] Ever since the 1990s, stereolithography models have been used in the medical field to make realistic 3D models of the human anatomy based off of computer scans. [8] 3D Systems states that other medical tools stereolithography is used for ranges from surgical tools, dental appliances, and hearing aids. [8] Stereolithography is not generally considered suitable for production applications because the photo-reactive resins used in the process do not remain stable under long exposure to UV light. [7] Stereolithography is often typecast as a prototyping process sometimes based on an outdated understanding of material capabilities. [10] When it comes to additional stereolithography uses, it can also be found in car manufacturing, particularly for prototyping parts such as a door handle. [8] Stereolithography is a common rapid manufacturing and rapid prototyping technology for producing parts with high accuracy and good surface finish. [6] Figure 1: 355-nm stereolithography can create metal plated parts with high resolution and accuracy, as shown in this demonstration part. [10] Proto Labs (NYSE: PRLB ), who uses rapid prototyping in stereolithography, selective laser sintering and direct metal laser sintering. [8] Stereolithography is a laser-based technology that uses a UV-sensitive liquid resin. [9] For a deeper dive into SLA technology, check out The Ultimate Guide to Stereolithography. [11] Like many forms of technology, stereolithography is used for a variety of products in a number of different industries. [8] This photopolymer is used in solid imaging processes, like stereolithography, to build three-dimensional parts. [6] Our wide range of Stereolithography photopolymers serve our customer’s requirements, from clear to strong, rigid plastics to special formulas for investment casting patterns. [7] Our experience with Stereolithography has led us to develop proprietary techniques, post-processing methods, and material development for specialized applications. [7] Formlabs notes the meaning of stereolithography was expanded to include “any material capable of solidification or alteration of its physical state.” [8]

Ready to make your Stereolithography application? Request a quote below. [7] Stereolithography is available in a variety of resolutions. [7] With that in mind, here the Investing News Network (INN) provides a brief overview of stereolithography and its varying uses. [8]

Stereolithography (SLA) resins are liquid UV-curable photopolymers used in this process. [6] Stereolithography (SLA) is an additive manufacturing process that belongs to the Vat Photopolymerization family. [12]

Somos® Taurus (charcoal grey) – is the latest addition to the high impact family of stereolithography (SLA) materials from Somos®. [6] Our Somos® stereolithography (SL) materials are specifically formulated to withstand the extreme forces and temperatures that the industry requires delivering the accuracy and durability you need. [6] Our Somos® stereolithography (SL) solutions enable you to take your prototyping to the next level –creating safer, better designs with speed and accuracy. [6]

Today, the inherent characteristics of 355-nm laser based stereolithography (SL) technology characteristics leverage ever-expanding material capabilities to mature into one of the widest used and highest utility AM processes. [10] Our responsive team of engineers have worked tirelessly, testing and validate Stereolithography materials and processes for nearly 30 years. [7] Somos® EvoLVe 128 (white) – is a durable stereolithography material that produces accurate, dimensionally stable, high-detailed parts and has been designed for easy finishing. [6] With the lowest viscosity of any composite stereolithography material, parts made from Somos® PerFORM are faster to build, easier to post-process clean, possess superior sidewall quality and provide unmatched detail resolution. [6] Somos® PerFORM (off white) – a fast processing stereolithography material resulting in strong, stiff and accurate parts with high feature resolution. [6] Somos® BioClear (clear) – is the first stereolithography material from Somos® strictly for medical applications. [6] Somos® ProtoTherm 12120 differentiates itself from other high temperature stereolithography materials by increasing in tensile strength and maintaining decent elongation at break after thermal treatment. [6]

Stereolithography is used to create prototypes for products and in medical modeling, among other uses.[13] Stereolithography lets designers create 3D models using digital data, which can then be used to create a tangible object. [14] Stereolithography becomes SLA. And Laminated Object Manufacturing becomes LOM, as two examples. [15] I use the word stereolithography to include all of the branded variations on vat photopolymerization, each with their own acronyms: DLP, LCD SLA, CLIP/DLS, etc. [16] He called it his SLA machine, which stands for stereolithography apparatus. [15]

Stereolithography produces parts layer by layer using a technique called photopolymerization. [17] The key to stereolithography is a kind of acrylic-based material known as photopolymer. [14] The stereolithography process, or SLA, is a laser-based additive process which builds parts in an epoxy-based photopolymer. [18] The stereolithography process is also rapid with the ability to produce just about any design. [18] Is a highly durable stereolithography material which produces very accurate parts with high feature resolution. [19]

Is the latest addition to the high impact family of stereolithography (SLA) materials from Somos. [19]

Other methods cure liquid materials using different sophisticated technologies, such as stereolithography.[20] Photopolymerization is primarily used in stereolithography to produce a solid part from a liquid. [20] Stereolithography is often used for rapid prototyping because of its fast speed, accuracy, and part strength. [21] DLP is similar to SLA, but it uses a video projector instead of the laser used in stereolithography. [21] This business provides SLA – Stereolithography, CNC Prototypes and FDM – Fused Deposition Modeling. [22] Experienced in SLA – Stereolithography, Action Prototype and Urethane Casting offers quality you can count on. [22] Con-Tech Plastics has in depth knowledge and expertise with SLA – Stereolithography and Plastic Injection Molding. [22] Are you looking for SLA – Stereolithography? ARRK Product Development Group can help you out. [22] This company is highly rated and reviewed by their customers for SLA – Stereolithography and Metal CNC Machining. [22] Scicon Technologies Corp is one of the the leaders in SLA – Stereolithography. [22] Opt for this business if you are looking for high quality SLA – Stereolithography. [22]

Hull defined the process as a “system for generating three-dimensional objects by creating a cross-sectional pattern of the object to be formed,”. 13 14 Hull’s contribution was the STL (Stereolithography) file format and the digital slicing and infill strategies common to many processes today. [20] Three weeks later in 1984, Chuck Hull of 3D Systems Corporation 12 filed his own patent for a stereolithography fabrication system, in which layers are added by curing photopolymers with ultraviolet light lasers. [20] Photo Caption Dr. Sean Wise of RePliForm (left) and colleague Rick Dunlap are holding new electroplated stereolithography parts including a copper plated wave guide and nickel coated flexible mesh at the 2017 AMUG ( Additive Manufacturing Users Group ) conference in 2017. [23] Parts created through stereolithography have a limited lifespan and will start to lose their mechanical properties eventually. [21]

Apart from rapid prototyping, Stereolithography has the most applications in industries such as the dentistry and jewelry industry. [21] Stereolithography, unlike Selective Laser Sintering, uses supports. [21] Stereolithography allows for complex shapes to be created which traditional manufacturing techniques simply cannot make. [21] Stereolithography is largely an expensive commercial technique, with machines often costing $100,000 or more. [24] In Mask-image-projection-based stereolithography, a 3D digital model is sliced by a set of horizontal planes. [20] Stereolithography (SL) like all additive manufacturing processes provides a means to translate 3D computer models into a physical shape without machining. [23] Biocompatible and transparent resins provide the possibility of fabricating biomedical devices by stereolithography (SL) although most of SL resins are non-biocompatible and translucent or opaque materials in the jewelry and structural modeling. [25]

Photo Caption: The stereolithography process is successfully being used to create tooling for short runs. [23]

Stereolithography machines can build parts from a number of thermoplastic-like materials.[26] Stereolithography was the ideal technology for the large, lightweight parts and the fine feature details of the bone models. [26]

Stereolithography is an additive manufacturing process that works by focusing an ultraviolet (UV) laser on to a vat of photopolymer resin. [27] A respected Stereolithography pioneer and leader, DWS is making additive manufacturing 4.0 real by delivering the most advanced photopolymer additive manufacturing systems, materials and digital tools available. [28] DWS is a respected pioneer and innovator of precision Stereolithography systems and materials. [28]

This step is a type of Stereolithography that uses a wax-like resin. [26] In the present work, three stereolithography resins were pretreated following three different methods. [29]

Sony Manufacturing Systems (Japan) stopped producing its stereolithography machine, called the Solid Creation System (SCS), in March 2007, after 18 years. [26] Contact our on-demand manufacturing specialist for more info on stereolithography capabilities. [30] Meiko has been in the business of manufacturing and selling stereolithography systems for 12 years and suspended its business in late 2006. [26]